A Collective Documentary? A case study of audio-visual UGC surrounding the Christchurch earthquakes

This thesis centres upon the study of the audio-visual user-generated content (UGC) relating to the series of earthquakes between September 2010 and January 2012 in the city of Christchurch, New Zealand. The analysis of 200 user-generated videos, largely from YouTube, reveals clear distinctions between the key patterns of eyewitness footage, conversational or explanatory pieces, recombinant works, and professional content re-uploaded by users. These broad patterns include generally low quality images across all ‘types’ of UGC, the rapid upload of content after a major earthquake which results in a steady decline of uploads over time, and key pieces of what could be termed ‘raw’ footage that was easily appropriated by traditional news organisations (footage which then circulated local and global news networks). However, absent from this collection of material is any attempts made by users to recombine such raw footage into a coherent narrative, therefore the only material on YouTube that provides contextual information is that of re-recorded televised news broadcasts that have been re-uploaded to the platform by users. Though the indexical qualities of this UGC and how they have the potential to form a type of ‘documentary narrative’ utilising YouTube as the key facilitator, is the true focus of this research. There are two main components within this thesis; the first is an exploration of the trends associated with the production and distribution of the UGC through a survey 200 user-generated videos sourced, mainly, from YouTube, discussing in particular pivotal ‘documental’ elements of the material. The second is an investigation into how YouTube and the uploaders of such content work in conjunction with one another to ultimately create a collective of material (although, this collective is of material has degraded over time due to the unstable nature of the platform). This includes an inspection of how uploaders ‘market’ their material on the platform, and how YouTube distributes and displays this content to potential audiences. This research has found that YouTube, not only works as a ‘platform’ or an ‘archive’, but a facilitator of potential pathways through similar content. By establishing relationships between this content based on user-defined ‘tags’ and descriptions, YouTube then automatically recommends the audience to follow hyperlinked routes through this related material. These pathways can be seen as ‘narrative possibilities’ as the system encourages users to follow a sequence of related material - a pathway that needs to be ‘performed’ by users which can, arguably, provide a kind of narrative of the events in Christchurch. The traditional definition of ‘documentary’ does not take into account these new media and new modes of distribution and reception; this thesis, however, has argued that this level of interactivity, and the ways in which YouTube and content creators present material, has the potential to create a type of documentary narrative

Resurrection of 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1) from the ancestor of modern horseshoe bats blocks SARS-CoV-2 replication

The prenylated form of the human 2′-5′-oligoadenylate synthetase 1 (OAS1) protein has been shown to potently inhibit the replication of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), the virus responsible for the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, the OAS1 orthologue in the horseshoe bats (superfamily Rhinolophoidea), the reservoir host of SARS-related coronaviruses (SARSr-CoVs), has lost the prenylation signal required for this antiviral activity. Herein, we used an ancestral state reconstruction approach to predict and reconstitute in vitro, the most likely OAS1 protein sequence expressed by the Rhinolophoidea common ancestor prior to its prenylation loss (RhinoCA OAS1). We exogenously expressed the ancient bat protein in vitro to show that, unlike its non-prenylated horseshoe bat descendants, RhinoCA OAS1 successfully blocks SARS-CoV-2 replication. Using protein structure predictions in combination with evolutionary hypothesis testing methods, we highlight sites under unique diversifying selection specific to OAS1’s evolution in the Rhinolophoidea. These sites are located near the RNA-binding region and the C-terminal end of the protein where the prenylation signal would have been. Our results confirm that OAS1 prenylation loss at the base of the Rhinolophoidea clade ablated the ability of OAS1 to restrict SARSr-CoV replication and that subsequent evolution of the gene in these bats likely favoured an alternative function. These findings can advance our understanding of the tightly linked association between SARSr-CoVs and horseshoe bats

Interpreting whole genome sequencing for investigating tuberculosis transmission: a systematic review

BACKGROUND: Whole genome sequencing (WGS) is becoming an important part of epidemiological investigations of infectious diseases due to greater resolution and cost reductions compared to traditional typing approaches. Many public health and clinical teams will increasingly use WGS to investigate clusters of potential pathogen transmission, making it crucial to understand the benefits and assumptions of the analytical methods for investigating the data. We aimed to understand how different approaches affect inferences of transmission dynamics and outline limitations of the methods. METHODS: We comprehensively searched electronic databases for studies that presented methods used to interpret WGS data for investigating tuberculosis (TB) transmission. Two authors independently selected studies for inclusion and extracted data. Due to considerable methodological heterogeneity between studies, we present summary data with accompanying narrative synthesis rather than pooled analyses. RESULTS: Twenty-five studies met our inclusion criteria. Despite the range of interpretation tools, the usefulness of WGS data in understanding TB transmission often depends on the amount of genetic diversity in the setting. Where diversity is small, distinguishing re-infections from relapses may be impossible; interpretation may be aided by the use of epidemiological data, examining minor variants and deep sequencing. Conversely, when within-host diversity is large, due to genetic hitchhiking or co-infection of two dissimilar strains, it is critical to understand how it arose. Greater understanding of microevolution and mixed infection will enhance interpretation of WGS data. CONCLUSIONS: As sequencing studies have sampled more intensely and integrated multiple sources of information, the understanding of TB transmission and diversity has grown, but there is still much to be learnt about the origins of diversity that will affect inferences from these data. Public health teams and researchers should combine epidemiological, clinical and WGS data to strengthen investigations of transmission

Increasing frailty is associated with higher prevalence and reduced recognition of delirium in older hospitalised inpatients: results of a multi-centre study

Purpose: Delirium is a neuropsychiatric disorder delineated by an acute change in cognition, attention, and consciousness. It is common, particularly in older adults, but poorly recognised. Frailty is the accumulation of deficits conferring an increased risk of adverse outcomes. We set out to determine how severity of frailty, as measured using the CFS, affected delirium rates, and recognition in hospitalised older people in the United Kingdom. Methods: Adults over 65 years were included in an observational multi-centre audit across UK hospitals, two prospective rounds, and one retrospective note review. Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS), delirium status, and 30-day outcomes were recorded. Results: The overall prevalence of delirium was 16.3% (483). Patients with delirium were more frail than patients without delirium (median CFS 6 vs 4). The risk of delirium was greater with increasing frailty [OR 2.9 (1.8–4.6) in CFS 4 vs 1–3; OR 12.4 (6.2–24.5) in CFS 8 vs 1–3]. Higher CFS was associated with reduced recognition of delirium (OR of 0.7 (0.3–1.9) in CFS 4 compared to 0.2 (0.1–0.7) in CFS 8). These risks were both independent of age and dementia. Conclusion: We have demonstrated an incremental increase in risk of delirium with increasing frailty. This has important clinical implications, suggesting that frailty may provide a more nuanced measure of vulnerability to delirium and poor outcomes. However, the most frail patients are least likely to have their delirium diagnosed and there is a significant lack of research into the underlying pathophysiology of both of these common geriatric syndromes

Adoptive transfer of gene-modified primary NK cells can specifically inhibit tumor progression in vivo

NK cells hold great potential for improving the immunotherapy of cancer. Nevertheless, tumor cells can effectively escape NK cell-mediated apoptosis through interaction of MHC molecules with NK cell inhibitory receptors. Thus, to harness NK cell effector function against tumors, we used Amaxa gene transfer technology to gene-modify primary mouse NK cells with a chimeric single-chain variable fragment (scFv) receptor specific for the human erbB2 tumor-associated Ag. The chimeric receptor was composed of the extracellular scFv anti-erbB2 Ab linked to the transmembrane and cytoplasmic CD28 and TCR-ζ signaling domains (scFv-CD28-ζ). In this study we demonstrated that mouse NK cells gene-modified with this chimera could specifically mediate enhanced killing of an erbB2 MHC class I lymphoma in a perforin-dependent manner. Expression of the chimera did not interfere with NK cell-mediated cytotoxicity mediated by endogenous NK receptors. Furthermore, adoptive transfer of gene-modified NK cells significantly enhanced the survival of RAG mice bearing established i.p. RMA-erbB2 lymphoma. In summary, these data suggest that use of genetically modified NK cells could broaden the scope of cancer immunotherapy for patients

In Utero Detection of Retinoblastoma with Fetal Magnetic Resonance and Ultrasound: Initial Experience

Purpose - Our aim was to evaluate and compare the ability of prenatal ultrasound (US) and fetal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to detect retinoblastoma lesions in utero. Methods - Fetuses at risk for having bilateral retinoblastoma were enrolled in this prospective study. High-resolution US of the fetal eye was performed at 16 to 18 weeks' gestation, every 4 weeks until 32 weeks, then every 2 weeks until delivery. Fetal MRIs were performed every 8 weeks starting at 16 to 18 weeks of gestation. An exam under anesthesia (EUA) was performed postnatally, the gold standard of this study. Lesions were classified as being elevated or minimally elevated based upon their morphology. Results - Of six fetuses suspected or confirmed to be at risk for developing bilateral retinoblastoma, one had tumors on her first postnatal EUA exam. A total of two minimally elevated lesions were seen by the EUA but not detected prenatally by imaging. One elevated lesion (2 mm in height) identified by postnatal EUA was initially identified by prenatal US. Fetal MRI did not detect any lesions. Conclusion - Both prenatal US and fetal MRI are limited in the detection of minimally elevated retinoblastoma lesions. Prenatal US appears to be more sensitive than fetal MRI in the detection of elevated retinoblastoma lesions

Case study of physiotherapy treatment of a patient with posttraumatic paresis n. peroneus communis dx.

Title: Case study of physiotherapy treatment of patient with the posttraumatic paresis n. peroneus communis dx. Objectives: Gain of theoretical knowledge about peripheral paresis, especially peripheral paresis n. peroneus communis dx. Subsequent case study formulation of patient with selected diagnosis made during coherent scholarly practice. Methods: The theoretical part of this bachelor thesis contains theoretical knowledge about anatomy of peripheral nervous system of the lower extremities, the clinical image of the peripheral paresis ane the treatment with sequential therapy. Results: Increase of muscle strenght in weakened muscels, improvement of movement range, elimination of reflective changes and restoration of joint play. Conclusion: Indikation of physiotherapy is very important in the treatment of peripheral paresis. Keywords: peripheral paresis, n.peroneus, physiotherap

Sex and Gender Driven Modifiers of Alzheimer's: The Role for Estrogenic Control Across Age, Race, Medical, and Lifestyle Risks.

Research indicates that after advanced age, the major risk factor for late-onset Alzheimer's disease (AD) is female sex. Out of every three AD patients, two are females with postmenopausal women contributing to over 60% of all those affected. Sex- and gender-related differences in AD have been widely researched and several emerging lines of evidence point to different vulnerabilities that contribute to dementia risk. Among those being considered, it is becoming widely accepted that gonadal steroids contribute to the gender disparity in AD, as evidenced by the "estrogen hypothesis." This posits that sex hormones, 17β-estradiol in particular, exert a neuroprotective effect by shielding females' brains from disease development. This theory is further supported by recent findings that the onset of menopause is associated with the emergence of AD-related brain changes in women in contrast to men of the same age. In this review, we discuss genetic, medical, societal, and lifestyle risk factors known to increase AD risk differently between the genders, with a focus on the role of hormonal changes, particularly declines in 17β-estradiol during the menopause transition (MT) as key underlying mechanisms